Conveyer-chain for match-machines.



No. 698,526. Patented Apr. 29,- I902.

E. M. LOCKWDOD, In. CONVEYER CHAIN FDR MATCH MACHINES.

(Applicationfiled Feb. 14, 1902 1 (No Model.)

' HHHWH! I I I V I Witnesses A UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

EDYVARD M. LOOKWOOD, JR., OF DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EMMA M. TOMSON, MARTIN E. BRIGHAM', AND HARRY K. BUCK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, TRADING AS P. C. TOMSON & COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,526, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed February 14, 1902. Serial N0. 94,025. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. LooK- WOOD, Jr., of Darby, Delaware county, State of Pennsylvania, have'invented an Improvement in Conveyer-Ghains for Match-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to conveyorchains for match-making machines, and it consists of certain improvements fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to so con struct a conveyer-chain for match-makingmachines that it shall be light in weight, strong in construction, cheap in cost, and easily repaired when necessary.

My object is also to so form the match-making bars that they may be stamped by suitable dies from sheet-steel, with the result that they shall be practically unbreakable.

My invention primarily consists of a conveyer-chain built up of stamped bars having match-stick-carrying sockets. In carrying out my inventionl form the conveyer of sectionshinged together, each section consisting of a series of transverse bars having sockets for supporting the match-sticks connected to rack-bars near'each end for connecting them together and for providing means to hinge such section to the next. The bars are of stamped sheet-steel and are provided with a series of semicircular portions driven outward to form sockets through which the match-sticks may be thrust and by which theyare held and guided upon the bar. The sockets are thus formed without drilling, and as the bar is made by dies every bar is a counterpart of the other, and hence accuracy of construction is secured. The bars are flanged to secure strength, and the ends pro-' jecting beyond the rack-bars constitute socket's or teeth with which the teeth of the am.

My invention also consists of many details of construction, all of which will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a planview of a portion of a conveyer-chain, parts being shown in section and dotted lines and also in its relation to the driving sprocket-wheels. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of same. Fig. 3 is an end view of same. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion of one of the stamped sheet metal bars making up the conveyer, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 thereof.

A A represent two sections of the conveyerchain, the entire conveyer being made up of a very large number of such sections connected end to end to form an endless chain. Each section A consists of match-carrying bars D, arranged parallel and connected together by the end rack-bars B, which rackbars of adjacent sections are hinged at b in any suitable manner. These rack-bars B consist of central body portions having long laterally-projecting lugs 0 between the hinge ends and short lateral lugs 0 adjacent to one of the ends. The barsD are substantially U -shaped in cross-section, having the horizontal flanges D D. The body portion at each end is slotted, as at d, to receive the body portion of the rack-bars between the projecting lugs O, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and intermediate of these slotted ends is provided with a series of outwardly-extending curved portions I, forced upout of the body of the bar, so as to produce a series of vertical apertures J for the reception of the match-sticks M. The lips of these outwardly-extending portions I are outwardly flared, as at 2', though it is perhaps important that said outward flaring should be only on the lower lips or those directed toward the approaching matchsticks. However, by having both lips flaring the bars may be inverted, if desired. 1 also prefer to form the body of thebar with recessed portions K, above and below and in alinernent with the outwardly-projecting portions 1 to better guide and hold thematchsticks parallel. To prevent the ends ofthe sticks catching upon the edge of the metal, the same is bent backward, as at 70, forming -ets E, in which the teeth of the driving sprocket-wheels F engage, as shown in Fig.

1, the said sprocket-wheels rotating in a hori-,

zontal plane. The rear flanges D of the bars rest against the outer ends of the lugs C, as shown in Fig. 3, and are thus held in steady position upon the rack-bars. The rear bar of each section is held in position bya spring G, which is sprung into position back of the bar and has its ends hooked, as at g, and hooked over the short lugs c of the rack-bars, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This spring also holds the rack-bars in place and prevents them spreading toward the outer ends of the bars D.

It is seen that the cost of producing the bars D is much less than bars of cast or forged metal with the holes drilled and also that as the bars are made with dies the position of every hole is definitely fixed. The bars being equally spaced apart produce in effect racks at their ends E to receive the driving-teeth of the sprocket-Wheels F, and thereby obviate the necessity of separate teeth either upon thebars D or upon the rack-barsB. The ends of the bars D are preferably rectangular, but

the middle portions may have corners more or less rounded for more readily guiding the match-sticks. The grooves K and the loops I form three places of support for the matchsticks in alinement, and hence the sticks are all held parallel and true.

' I do not limit myself to the manner of conmeeting the series of bars D into a section or of connecting the sections, as these are details which may be modified or changed as desired; but the construction shown is simple and efiective and excellently adapted to the purpose of this invention. It also permits easy dismantling of the conveyerfor repairs, so that very little loss of time is required in the operation of the machine even when repairs are required.

, Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A conveyer for a match-machine consisti'n'g' of longitudinal connecting-links and a series of transverse bars secured to the links, and consisting of stamped sheet metal, having a series of loops forced up from the face of the metal to form a support for the matchstick on one side and a series of guiding-surfaces on the face of the bars above and below the loops to form guiding-supports for the match-sticks on the other side.

2. A conveyer for a match-machine consisting of longitudinal connecting-links and a series of transverse bars secured to the links and consisting of stamped sheet metal having a series of loops forced up from the face of the metal, to form a support for the match-stick on one side, and a series of guiding-surfaces on the face of the bars above and below the loops to form guiding-supports for the matchsticks on the other side, and in which the edges of the loops and the edges of the face metal back of the loops and boundingthe lastmentioned guiding-supports are flared outward or away from f the match held by said loops and guiding-supports.

3. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consistingof sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body.

at. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body and having their edges flaring outward as at 'i.

5. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength,and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body and the metal of the body back of the loops flared outwardly in a backward direction as at k.

6. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body and the metal of the body above and below the looped portions inwardly grooved as at K, to guide the match-stick.

7. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body and the metal of the body above and below the looped portions inwardly grooved as at K to guide the match-stick and having their adja cent edges flared outwardly backward as at is.

8. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body andfurther provided on their ends with slots d in the face.

9. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength,and havingits bodyformed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body and further provided on their ends with slots d in the face, combined with rack-bars fitting the said slots and having projections for supporting the flange portions of the bar.

10. A match-stick-supporting bar for a conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body and further provided on their ends with slots din the face, in combination with carrierbars fitting said slots, and a spring connecting the carrier-bars and holding one of the supporting-bars in position a 11. A match-stick-supporting bar fora conveyer consisting of sheet metal having a bent flange for strength and having its body formed with a series of outwardly-projecting looped portions pressed outwardly from the body, and having the ends made with sockets for receiving the teeth of driving sprocketwheels. i a

12. A mateh-stick-supportin g bar for a conveyer consisting of a channel-bar the intermediate body of which is providedwith rounded projecting portions I forming apertures J, bounded on one side by said projecting portions and on the other by the body of the bar, and in which the body is grooved in alinement with the aperture to properly guide the match-stick. t

13. In a eonveyer for a match-machine, a

, section comprising the rack-bars B having lugs O a, combined with supporting-barsfor' the matches, having flan ges D projecting loops I and slots 01 into which the rack-bars'fit and a V in which the flanges D rest against the lugs G ofthe said rack-bars.

14. In a conveyer for a match-machine, a section comprising the rack-bars Bhaving lugs C 0, combined with supporting-bars for-t the matches having flanges Dprojecting loops I and slots cl into which the rack-bars fit and I in which the flanges D rest against the lugs O of the said rack-bars, anda spring Gpressing against one of the'supporting-bars and looped over the lugs c of the rack-bars for- E. M. ocKWooD, JR.

Witnesses:

R. M; HUNTER,

R. M. KELLY. 

